Also available in high definition: £4.50

A journalist (Russell Crowe) untangles a shocking murder mystery involving some important and promising political figures. Ben Affleck stars as a congressman whose assistant and mistress was the murder victim. Co stars Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren.

Film Trivia

• Brad Pitt and Edward Norton originally signed on for the movie, which would have reunited the pair for the first time since Fight Club. But because of the writer's strike the film was delayed and the pair dropped out.
• Russell Crowe asked director Ridley Scott to read the script aloud to him to help him decide if he should star in the film.
• This film was based on the BBC television series of the same name. Director Kevin Macdonald considered asking Bill Nighy to reprise his role as Cameron, before deciding to make the character a woman instead. Helen Mirren was then cast.
• Brian De Palma, Richard Linklater and Jim Jarmusch were all offered the chance to direct this film.
• On the wall of McAffrey's office there are two photos of the real-life Washington reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who helped to expose the Watergate scandal.

If you like State Of Play, try these:

• The International
• In The Loop
• Fifty Dead Men Walking
• Traitor